How to distinguish the real Xiaomi from the fake: the complete guide

The smartphone market is saturated with devices that copy the designs and logos of popular brands. Xiaomi has become one of the most copied companies in the world, which has spawned an entire industry of low- and medium-quality replicas. Customers often face a situation where attractive prices hide poor-quality plastic, blurred screens and stripped-down functionality. It becomes more difficult to distinguish a copy every year as fake manufacturers improve their technologies.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the nuances that will help you avoid buying a poor-quality device. IMEI-code, analyze the build of the case, test the software and compare components, and understanding these differences will save you money and nerves, ensuring that you get the right tech gadget you paid for.

Despite the similarities, counterfeit devices always have critical differences in performance and safety. Using counterfeit electronics can lead to personal data leakage or even battery explosion. Therefore, checking the phone before paying or immediately after receiving a parcel is a must for every reasonable consumer.

Analysis of the appearance and quality of the assembly of the body

The first thing that catches your eye when you look at the device is the look of it. Xiaomi's original smartphones are assembled on automated lines with minimal tolerances. The gaps between the case and the screen, the buttons and the back cover should be uniform and minimal. Any skews, creaks when compressed or protruding glue indicate artisanal assembly.

Note the materials. The flagship Mi and Xiaomi models often use glass and metal, and the budget Redmi series uses high-quality polycarbonate. In fakes, even plastic feels cheap, “toy” and often has an unpleasant chemical smell. The speakers and microphone holes in the original are always drilled perfectly evenly, whereas in replicas they can be displaced or have burrows.

⚠️ Warning: If the "Mi" logo on the back is pasted over glass or metal rather than embedded in the body structure or laser-painted, it's almost guaranteed to be fake.In the original devices, the logo is part of the design.

Pay special attention to the screen. IPS or AMOLED technology used by Xiaomi provides excellent viewing angles and saturated colors. Counterfeiting often has cheap TN-matrixes that fade at the slightest tilt of the phone. Also check for Gorilla Glass: the originals have an oleophobic coating that makes the finger slide easily, and the copies often have a rough screen and quickly get dirty.

Verification IMEI-code and serial number

The most reliable way to autohenticate a device is to verify its unique identifier, and each legitimate smartphone is assigned an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) code, which can be found in several places on Xiaomi’s original devices: on the box, under the battery (if it is removable), and in the system itself.

To quickly check, type *#06# in the Phone app, and the screen will show SIM and IMEI information. Compare these numbers to the ones printed on the box. They should match exactly. If the numbers are different or the phone refuses to show the code, you clearly have a re-flashed copy.

Next, you need to punch this number through the official databases. Xiaomi provides a service for authentication on its website. Enter IMEI and serial number (S/N) in the appropriate fields. The system will answer whether such a model exists in the database and what its warranty status is.

• 🔍 Go to the official Xiaomi verification site in the section "Verify Product".
• 📱 Enter. IMEI-code obtained through the engineering menu.
• 📦 Enter the serial number (S/N), boxed.
• ✅ Verify the device model and warranty end date with reality.

Diagnostics of Android Software and System

The software shell is the soul of a smartphone, and it’s almost impossible to fake it completely. Original devices run on MIUI (or the new HyperOS), which is characterized by smooth animations and a sophisticated interface. Counterfeiters often use old, bloated versions of Android with redrawn icons that only mimic the style of Xiaomi.

Try opening the menu of recent apps. In MIUI, this is done by swiping from the bottom up with a delay or menu button, and the app windows are vertically positioned with the ability to quickly close the swipe. Fakes often have horizontal scrolling or no curtail animation. Also, look at the app store: the original is GetApps (Mi Store) along with Google Play, and the fakes can have strange Chinese marketplaces or none at all.

Check the About phone settings. Click multiple times on the MIUI version to run the update. The original phone will try to find updates through the official server. Fakes will either show a connection error or suggest updating through strange third-party links. Also, fakes often list non-existent specs, such as 12 GB of RAM with real 1 GB.

Performance and performance testing

Counterfeit manufacturers often point to the box and phone settings for flagships, even though there is entry-level hardware inside. To see the real picture, you need to use specialized utilities. Standard Android tools can lie, because the replica system files are modified to display false information.

Install a CPU-Z or AIDA64 application. These programs read data directly from the device's chips. Note the processor model: instead of the Snapdragon or MediaTek Dimensity claimed, the fake is likely to be an old chip from MediaTek with a low clock speed. Also check the screen resolution: the actual number of pixels is often much less than the declared Full HD.

Recommended applications for the test:


CPU-Z (processor and sensor analysis)




AIDA64 (complete system information)




3. AnTuTu Benchmark (Performance Comparison)




4. TestM (checking all phone functions)

Run a performance test in AnTuTu.The original Xiaomi mid-range will score a minimum 300-400 If the result is thousands of points, 50-70 And you can also look at the heat, because fakes are often warmed up even on simple tasks because of inefficient cooling and poor optimization.

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Never believe the numbers on the About Phone menu on an unfamiliar device, only third-party utilities like CPU-Z show the real-world characteristics of the hardware.

Comparison of equipment and accessories

Accessories are another marker to calculate a replica from. Xiaomi, even in the budget segment, tries to deliver quality chargers and cables. The original power supply has a clear label, weight and no backlash in the socket. USB cable is usually flat or has a high-quality braid, connectors sit tight.

The original devices often include a transparent silicone case and a protective film already pasted on the screen. The case should sit perfectly on the figure of the phone, not slide down and have accurate cutouts for cameras and ports. Counterfeits either do not have a case at all, or offer cheap plastic that cracks after a week of use.

Notice the documentation. Inside the original box, there's always a warranty card, a brief user guide, and a paper clip to extract. SIM-The paper must be of high quality, with a clear seal. In replicas, instructions are often printed on gray paper with blurred text or in "Chinese English" with grammatical errors.

Where to buy and how to protect yourself

The risk of counterfeiting depends on where you buy it: Official stores, major retailers and authorized Xiaomi partners value their reputation and do not sell counterfeit goods, and problems most often arise when ordering from little-known Chinese sites, in local electronics markets, or when buying from hand at suspiciously low prices.

If you buy a phone online, look closely at the reviews of the seller. Pay attention to the photos in the reviews, especially the pictures of the box and the screen on. Often, customers post screenshots of the actual memory capacity or benchmarks, which immediately makes it clear what kind of device came in the fact.

⚠️ Note: If the price of the new flagship Xiaomi on 40-50% It's not a stock or a sale, it's a guaranteed fake or a phone refurbished after a major repair, sold as a new one.

When you receive the goods at the post office or by courier, feel free to check the contents of the box before signing the acceptance documents (if delivery rules allow it). Turn on the phone, check the IMEI and appearance. This will take 5 minutes, but will save you from long return procedures and litigation.

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Keep the check and the box from the phone for at least 14 days (refund period) or the entire warranty period. Having the original packaging makes it much easier to return defective goods.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)